Apparatus for forming container heads



Jan. 13, 1948. N s U 2,434,375

APPARATUS FOR FORMING CONTAINER HEADS Filed July 14, 1944 s Shets-Shet 1 Jan. 13, 1 948. 3.1-1. VAN SAUN 3 APPARATUS FOR FORMING CONTAINER HEADS Filed July 14, 1944 3 Sheets-Shoat 2 fz z veni ar au7a J. 1948. R. H. VAN SAUN APPARATUS FOR FORMING CONTAINER HEADS 7 Filed July 14, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Jan. 13, 1943 2.434.315 ArrAnAros ron ronmno con'rAmna HEADS Raymond H. Van Saun, Berkeley, Calif., assignor to Container Corporation of America, Chicago. 111., a corporation of Delaware Application July 14, 1944, Serial No. 544,995

3 Claims. (01. 113-42) This invention relates, in general, to an apparatus for forming container heads or the like, and has particular relation to an apparatus adapted for the production of container heads from sheet material, such as paperboard, fiberboard, or like material, by means of a plurality of drawing operations.

While the particular apparatus which I shall describe hereinafter in connection with the drawings is adapted for producing containerheads circular in form, it is to be understood that these articles may be shaped otherwise within the broader aspects of the present invention.

One of the main objects of the present invention is to provide an improved apparatus for producing quickly, efiiciently, and relatively inexpensively container heads which in their production require a plurality of drawing operations.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved apparatus, and more particularly an improved'drawing press, upon which a plurality of drawing operations may be performed on a blank of paperboard, fiberboard, or similar sheet material without the necessityof handling the blank between such operations.

Another object of the'invention is to provide for performing the drawing operations without weakening the material from which the article is produced; also for performing these operations in an improved manner and on a single machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved arrangement of the drawing and shap-' ing members and other parts; also an improved correlation between these parts and the operating means therefor for accomplishing the purposes set forth.

It is a further and more specific object of the invention to provide in a drawing press of the class described a pair of draw rings, one having movement relative to the other. and a plurality of cooperating drawing and shaping members having movement relative to each other; also movement in unison and movement relative to said draw rings for accomplishing the purposes set forth.

Another more specific object of the invention is to provide a drawing press for the production from a sheet of the class describedof a circular container head having a marginal portion provided with an annular groove adapted to receive the adjacent end of a cylindrical container wall; also a downwardly extending peripheral flange adapted to lie outside the wall of the container, and an annular depression adjacent and inwardly of said marginal portion.-

Further objects, advantages and uses of the invention will becom apparent from the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of one form 2 of my improved drawing press for forming container heads or the like in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view through the draw rings and the drawing and shaping members and adiacent parts, partially in elevation,

and on an enlarged scale;

Figures 3 to '7, inclusive, are simplified fragmentary sectional views illustrating the ositions of the, draw rings and the cooperating drawing and shaping members during various stages of production of a container head;

Figure 8 is a sectional view similar to Figure 2 but in simn1fid form. s owing a modification of the apparatus shown in Figure. 2; and

Figures 9 and 10 are simplified fragmentary sectional views illustrating subsequent positions of the drawin and shap ng members of Figure 8.

Referring first to he embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 to '7. inc usive. of the drawin s, the reference character l0 des gnates, generally, a frame comprising uprights angle ir'on members ll. horizontal angle iron members l2 extending from front to rear of the frame. and furt er horizontal angle iron members If! extending from side to side of the frame at right angles to the members l2. The members I! are bolted or otherwise suitably secured to the upright members H, and the members l3 are bolted or otherwise secured to the members l2.

The cont iner head is made from sheet material such as paperboard, fiberboard. or like material. wh ch is fed between lower and u per draw rin s designated, in general, at is and I6 respectively. The sheet material I 4 is adapted to be held marginally by the draw rings l5 and It with the area of the sheet material within the draw rings positioned between lower and upper forming and shaping or die members I! and Ill. The sheet material may be formed of several plies of material laminated together, and the container head, may be drawn or shaped while the thermoplastic or other adhesive is soft so that the plies may slip on one another during the drawing and s aping operation and thus .betrer preserve the fibrous structure of each ply. This may vary wid ly insofar as the ap aratus of the present invention is co cerned. and. therefore, for the pur ose of simplifying the disclosure. the laminated form of the sheet material is not illustraf ed in the drawings.

Thelower draw ringlS is secured in place on a supportin base member l9 carried, for example, by adjacent angle irons l3. Base member 19 has an axial opening 20. The cooperating upper draw ring I5 is carried by a yoke member 2| mounted for vertical movement on guide pins 22 screwed at their lower ends into upstanding bosses on the supporting base IS. The upper draw ring 16 has an inner radius larger than the inner radius or the lower draw ring 15 by about the thickness of the finished wall of the container head. An annular insulating member 23 is interposed betwcen the bottom of the draw ring 15 and the base member l9 to prevent loss of heat by conduction from the ring IS. A similar annular insulating member 24 is interposed between the top of the ring l6 and the member 2| to prevent loss of heat from the ring I 6."

While the draw rings l and I6 are'shown of one piece construction in the simplified views, Figures 3 to 7, inclusive, each of these rings preferably comprises inner and outer sections as shown in Figure 2. The two sections of the lower ring l5 are secured by bolts 25 or other suitable means to an annular member 26, and the two sections of the upper ring l6 are secured by bolts 21 to an annular member 28. The lower draw ring l5 has an upwardly facing clamping surface and an upwardly extending annular cutting or shearing edge 29 surrounding said clamping surface. The upper draw ring [6 has a cooperating downwardly facing clamping surface and a lower outer annular edge 30 adapted to cooperate with the cutting edge 29 to cut a circular blank from the sheet material I4 when the upper draw ring I6 descends toward the lower ring I5. The draw rings I5 and I 6 may be provided internally thereof with electric or other suitable heaters 32 and 33. respectively, of annular or other suitable form.

The lower drawing and shaping member is in the form of a die member 34 fastened for example, by bolts 35 and a flanged collar 36 to the upper end of a. shaft 31. The shaft 31 is adapted to be actuated to raise and lower the die member 34 by suitable means. for example. by movement of a piston 38 in a lower air or fluid. cylinder 39 carried by adjacent angle irons l3. The shaft 31 extends downwardly from -the die member 34 and axially into the cylinder 39. and is fastened at its lower end to the piston 38. The cylinder 39 is shown as having air or fluid ducts or tubes 40 and 4| connected therewith, as well understood in the art.

As shown in detail in Figure 2, the die 34 is preferably constructed of several sections secured together by annularly spaced bolts 42 or other fastening means. Electric or other suitable heaters 44, of annular or other form. are preferably mounted in downwardly opening annular recesses in the intermediate section of the lower die, and may be held in place by the lower section or cover plate of this lower die, between which and the flanged collar 36 an annular insulating member 45 is interposed. A further annular insulating member 46 is interposed between the bottom of the lower section of the die 34 andthe supporting base I 9. These insulating members 45 and 46 prevent loss of heat by conduction from the bottom of the lower die. The upper surface of the intermediate section of the lower die has one or more annular grooves 48 from which a plurality of annularly spaced vert cal passageways extend downwardly through the lower die. These passageways vent from the space between the botrom of the sheet material I 4 and the upper surface of the lower die vapor or the like which may be emitted from the sheet 14 or from adhesive between nlies thereof in the drawinc and shaping operation.

The outer periphery of the lower die 34 has "sliding fit with the inner surface of the lower draw ring i5, and, being of approximately the same diameter as the inner diameter of the lower draw ring 15. has an exter al d e r smaller than the inner diameter of the upper draw ring l6 by about twice the thickness of the finished wall of the container head. The upper surface of the lower die 34 is provided with an annular forming or shaping well or channel 52 r the outer surface of which is formed by an unstanding annular portion 53. The annular well or channel 52 and the upstanding annular portion 53 are preferably formed in the third section or forming head insert of the lower die, which insert may, if desired, be hardened, and is adapted to be removed and replaced, as well known in the art.

The yoke member 2| and the upper draw ring l6 carried thereby are adapted to be raised and lowered by suitable means, for example, by movement of a piston 55 in an intermediate air or fluid cylinder 56 carried by adjacent angle irons l3. The piston 55 has a tubular shaft 51 which extends downwardly through the lower end of the cylinder 56 and is fastened at its lower end to the yoke member 2|, so that movement of the piston 55 within the cylinder 56 will lower and raise the yoke member 2| and the upper draw ring I6 with an accompanying sliding movement of the yoke member 2| on the guide pins 22.. The cylinder 56 has air or fiuid ducts or tubes 59 and 60 connected therewith.

The upper drawing and shaping member is in the form of a die member or plunger 62 fastened by bolts 63 and a flanged collar 64 to the lower end of a shaft 65. The shaft 65 is adapted to be actuated to raise and lower the die or plunger member 62 by movement of a piston 66 in an upper air or fluid cylinder 61 carried by adjacent angle irons [3. The shaft 65 extends upwardly through the tubular shaft 51, axially through the fluid cylinder 56 and into the fluid cylinder 61 wherein it is fastened at its upper end to the piston 66. The cylinder 61 is shown as having air or fluid ducts or tubes 69 and 10 connected therewith.

As shown in Figure 2, the upper die member or plunger 62 has a depending annular drawing and shaping portion 12 which is adapted to enter the channel 52 and to have drawing and shaping cooperation with the lower die 34 when the upper die or plunger 62 descends into cooperation with the lower die. The upper die 62 has an external diameter which is smaller than the internal diameter of the upstanding annular portion 53 of the lower die 34 by about the thickness of the sheet material l4. The tapered inner annular surface 13 of the depending portion 12 00- operates with the correspondingly tapered inner annular surface of the channel 52 when the upper die is brought into cooperation with the lower die.

The lower surface of the upper die or plunger 62 has one or more annular grooves 15 from which a plurality of annularly spaced vertical passageways 76 extend upwardly through the upper die. These passageways I6 vent, from the space between the top of the sheet material l4 and the lower surface of the upper die, vapor or the like which may be emitted from the sheet H or from adhesive between plies thereof in the drawing and shaping operation. Like the grooves 48, the grooves 15 are preferably relatively small so as not to produce formations in the sheet l4, although this may, of course, vary. Electric or other suitable heaters 18, of annular or other form, are preferably mounted in upwardly opening annular recesses in the upper die 62, and may be held in place by the upper section or cover plate 19 secured to the upper die by bolts Mounted on one side of the frame of the press is a control panel 84 which may be provided with air or fluid cylinder valves (not shown), and, if desired, air or fluid cylinder speed control valves (not shown) for the respective air or fluid cylinders 39, 56 and 61. The heaters 32, 33, 44, and 18 may be connected by means of conductors 85 to any suitable source of current, which may be a 220 volt circuit or any other suitable circuit.

In drawing and forming a container head or the like from the sheet material 14, the following sequence is followed:

With the upper draw ring l6 and upper die member 32 is raised position and the lower die member 34 in its lowered position the sheet material I4 is fed between the upper and lower draw rings. With the sheet l4 so positioned, the valve -means for the cylinder 56 is operated to lower the yoke member 2| and cause the upper draw ring Hi to descend on the sheet M or web of plies. The cooperation of the cutting edge 29 with the edge 30 on the lower ring |5 cuts out acircular blank from the sheet Hi. The ring It continues downward until the blank is held marginally therebetween, .the distance remaining between the upper and lower draw rings 5 and I6 being preferably slightly greater than the caliper of board or material to be drawn.

The draw rings l5 and i6 then remain stationary, and the valve means for the cylinder 61 is operated to move the upper die member 62 downwardly into drawing and shaping cooperation with the lower die member 34 as shown in Figure 3. This forces the blank |4 into the annular well or channel or 52, thus forming an annular well in the blank l4 corresponding with the shape of the well 52 of the die 34 and the cooperating portion 12 of the die 62. The outer margin of the blank I4 is drawn inwardly to some extent from between the draw rings l5 and IS in this operation, but not sufliciently to weaken the material l4.

The control valve means is then operated to move the lower and upper dies 34 and 62 upwardly in unison with the blank |4 therebetween. This draws the remaining marginal portion of the blank M from between the draw rings l5 and v I6, and the passage of the lower die 34 into or through the upper draw ring l6 downturns the marginal portion of the blank around the upstanding annular portion 53 of the lower die, and between it and the inner surface of upper draw ring Hi to form on the container head a marginal portion provided with an annular groove adapted to receive the adjacent end of the wall of the container (not shown). The positions of the upper and lower die members upon completion of this stage of the operation are shown in Figure 4.

The next step is to operate the control valve means for the cylinder 56 to raise the upper draw ring I 6 to approximately the position shown in Figure 5, whereupon the control valve means for the cylinder 31 is operated to raise the upper die member 62 to approximately the position shown in Figure 6. Then by operating the control valve means for the cylinder 39, the lower die member 34 is caused to descend to its lowered position. This frees the drawn and shaped container head shown at a in Figure 7; the finished container head a being supported, for example. marginally on the lower draw ring at 88 for withdrawal or ejection from the press.

Referring to Figure 7, the finished container head a has the annular well b, the marginal portion provided with the annular groove 0 adapted to receive the adjacent end of the wall of the container and the downwardly extending peripheral flange d adapted to lie outside the wall of the container.

In the modified form of apparatus shown in Figures 8, 9, and 10, the lower and upper draw rings i5 and IS, the upper die or plunger member 32', and the yoke member 2| and guide pins 22 therefor are similar to the corresponding parts of the preceding embodiment of the invention. The means for actuating the upper draw ring and the upper die may also be similar to the means shown in Figure l, or of other suitable form.

The lower die means of this modified form of the invention comprises a pair of drawing and shaping die members 90and 9|. The die member 90 is fastened by bolts 92 and a flanged collar 93 to the upper end of a shaft 94. The shaft 94 extends through a collar or tubular actuating member 95 for the other lower die member 9|.

The collar 95, which has sliding movement on the shaft 94, has an upper end of reduced outer diameter which, extends into an axial opening in the die member 9|.

The outer periphery of the die member 9| has sliding fit with the inner surface of the lower draw ring l5 and is provided with an upstanding annular portion 96. The inner radius of the upstanding annular portion 96 is larger than the outer radius of the upper die or plunger member 62' by about the thickness of the finished wall of the container head. The upper draw ring It has an innerradius larger than the inner radius of the lower draw ring I5 by about the thickness of the finished wall of the container head. The outer periphery of the lower die member 9|, being approximately of the same diameter as the inner diameter of the lower draw ring l5, has an external diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the upper drawring l6 by about twice the thickness of the finished wall of the container head.

As in the preceding embodiment of the invention, the upper die 62' has a depending annular drawing and shaping portion 12 provided with a tapered inner annular surface 13'. In this case the upper member 90 of the two lower die .members has an upstanding drawing and shapthe surface 13' for cooperation therewith.

In this latter embodiment of the invention, the op rating sequence is as follows:

With the upper draw ring I6 and upper die 82' in raised position and the lower die members 90 and 9| in their lowered po itions, the sheet material I4 is fed between the draw rings. With the sheet material |4' so positioned, the upper draw ring I6 is caused to descend on the sheet i4. The cooperat on of the cutting edge 29' with the edge 30' cuts out a blank from the sheet. The ring l6 continues downwardly to position to hold the blank marginally, as in the preceding embodiment of the invention;

The draw rings l5 and I6 then remain stationary, and the upper die 32' is moved downwardly into drawing and shaping cooperation nular portion 98 of the lower member 9| moves over the outer periphery of the upper die 62" and completes the drawing and shaping oi the outer portion or the annular well formed in the container head, as shown in Figure'9. Then with I the parts in this position and with the die 9| in engagement with the die 90 at I00, the die mem'- bers 90, 9| and 62' are moved upwardly in-unison to approximately the positions. shown in Figure 10. This draws the remaining marginal portion of the blank II from between the draw rings l and I8, and the movement of the die 9| into or through the upperring l6 downturns the marginal. portion or the blank around the upstanding annular portion 98 of the die 9i to complete the drawing and shaping of the container head.

It is to be understood that the dies 90, 9|, and 92' and the draw ring 18' of the embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 8, 9, and may be actuatedby air or fluid cylinder and piston means, as disclosed in connection with the preceding embodiment of the invention or in any other suitable'or preferred manner.

I do not intend to be limited to the precise details or to the precise modifications shown and described, as variations in the details and other modifications are contemplated within the' scope of the appended claims.

I claim: I Y

1. Apparatus for forming a container head from a blank of paperboard orthe like, comprise ing first and second draw rings for holding the ing an internal radius greater than that of said second ring by substantially the thickness of said blank, a plurality of die members movable axially of said rings, one of said die members being disposed in said first ring and another of said die members being disposed with a sliding fit in said second ring in opposed relation to' said one die member and having an axially extending peripheral projection, said one .die member having an external radius smaller than the internal radius of said first ring by substantially the thickness of said projection plus twice the thickness of said blank, and means for moving said one die member independently and for moving said plurality of die members in unison, whereby the central portion of said'blank may be shaped between opposed die members by movement of said one fixed ring by substantially the thickness of said a 8 blank and movable in opposition to said fixed ring to hold the marginal portion of said blank therebetween, a first die member within said fixed ring having a diameter substantially equal to the internal diameter thereof, an axially Iextending peripheral projection on said first die member, a

second die member within said movable ring having a radius smaller than the integral radiu of said movable ring by substantially the thickness of said projection plus twice the thickness oi said paperboard and movable in one direction into forming relation with said first die member to shape the central portion of said blank, said first and second die members being movable in said forming relation in the opposite directionto dispose said projection spaced between the periphery of said second die member and the inner periphery oi. said movable ring with said marginal portion of the blank drawn thereabout from between said rlngs, andseparate means for actuating said die members and said movable draw ring.

3. Apparatus for forming a container head from a blank of paperbo'ard or the like, comprising a pair of opposed draw rings for holding the blank at the margin thereof, a first 01. said ring; having an internal radius greater than that or the second of said rings by substantially the thickness of said blank, a first die member in said first ring, an annular second die member slidingly fitting in said second ring and having a peripheral axially extending projection, a third die member within said econd die member in opposition to said first die member, said first die member, having a radius smaller than the internal radius of said first ring by substantially the thickness of said projection plus twice the thickness of said blank, said die members being movabl axially in said rings independently and toblank at the margin thereof, said first ring havgether, whereby said central portion of said blank may be shaped between said first and third die members by movement of said first die member in one direction and the marginal portion of the blank may be shaped between said projection and the external periphery of said first die member and internal periphery of said first ring by movement of said die member in' the opposite direction, and means for moving said first die member in said one direction and for moving said die members in the opposite direction.

RAYMOND H. VAN SAUN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,377,599 Allen June 5, 1945 1,884,708 Jeneson Oct. 25, 1932 2,177,027 Plumb .1.. Oct. 24, 1939 2,255,116 Helmstaedter Sept. 9, 1941 368,526 Fowler Aug. 16, 1,887

r 1,772,914 Rode Aug. 12, 1930 1,047,373 Bond Dec. 17, 1912 353,439 Butters Nov. 30, 1886 1,733,445- Burns Oct. 29, 1929 1,668,349 Baum May 1, 1928' 2,075,847 Hothersall Apr. 6, 1937 860.385 Jenkins July 16, 1907 1,954,816 Hothersall Apr. 17, 1934 Sebell May 7,1940

Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,434,375;- r January 1a, 1948.

RAYMOND H. VAN SAUN It is hereby certified that errors appear in the. printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Column 2 line 22, for the word uprights read upright; column 5, line-20, for is raised read in raised; column 8, line 8, claim 2, for integral read internal; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oflice.

Signed and sealed this 8th day of June, A. D. 1948.

[sun] THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Oomtim'o'ner of Patents. 

